Indicator lock



" y 1930- J. G. RAMEY INDICATOR LOCK Filed July 1s, 192:?

[IVVE TOR A TTORNE Y Patented May 6, '1930 UN TED sr TEs enn VGARLINGTON RA EY; or BOMEQGEORGIA INDICATOR LOQK Application filed July 15,

v This invention relates to improvements in indicating looks, as described in the following specificationand illustrated in the accompanying drawings that form part of the same. The invention consists essentially in the novel construction and arrangement of parts, whereby a series of'sliding plates or tumblers having on their respective ends characters or numbers denoting the key actuating them,

' are held 'locked in position with thenuinbers visible through ajwindow in. the lockcasing, by means of a resetting platewhich can be released only by the master key. I Particular objects of this invention'are to" obtain a positive indication ofthe party last operating the lock, and to devise 'anindicating lock of simple and durable construction, without the use of a recording tape.

A still further and important object of this invention is to devise a lock that indicates the last key that operates it, and one that must be reset by the master key after each operation, before any further operations are possible.

With the above and further objects inview the invention-will be clearly understood from a perusal of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying' dra wings and forming part ofthis application,

and wherein V Q Figure 1 is aperspective viewof anindi oating lock constructed inaccordance with the invention and showing the coverremoved.

Figure 2 is a view showing both coverand reset .plateremoved, and showingthe sliding plate in lockedor registeringrpositioni 1 Figure 3 is a view showingthe plate 20and cooperative parts, Y

Lfor actuating the mechanism.

7 ing ends of thetumblers with identifying marks displayed thereon. 5

4 Like numerals of reference indicatecorre-i sponding parts in each figure.

' Referring to the drawings, 1 is the lock casing here shown in the form of a padlock, though it must be understoodthat the inven 'tion may,with slight changes,beadapted for other well-known types of locks 2, 3, 4, 6,7,

#1.. a pins rigidly secured in the back of thefl I spring engaging the reset plate 11 in 'thenotch f 38 and extending part way around the pin Figure 5 is a detail perspective View, showi 1927. Serial 206 ,1037

casing 1 and'projecting inwardly therefrom. 5,8,9 are pins with reinforcing shoulders 30, 31, 29, rigidly'secured in the back of the cas-V ing 1 and projecting inwardly therefrom? 10 I is apin rigidlysecured in the back of the casing 1 and project-inginwardly therefrom and about'which theshackle 13% pivots. 11 is a reset plate, pivoted on pin-3, with an'ar'm 12 perpendicular to its surface which rests in slots 57 when the tumblers 14 are in an indi- Catingposition and in 'slot-s 58 when the tumblers-are not, and with a finger 2 8; actuated by a bit 50 on the master key A; 14' is apluralityof tumblers having the slots 25 and. 32 through which the-pins 2' and'3 extend respectively, said tumblers being slidable thereon. 1 15 is an opening or window in the casing 1 through which the indicating marks or numeralson the extremitiesof theexten'sions 16.] 17-and 18 of the stumblers 14 are readable whensaid atumblers are in a locked position. 19 is a ledge on theend of a shackle said 'end b may extend througha slot 36 in the casing 1,

so as to allow ledge 19to engage in a notch 21 in shackle plate 20. '26 is a spring secured at one end to the pawl 34 and having its other end extending into the notch 37 in the plate 20, said spring actuating said pawl and plate I on their respective pivotsi2 and 6. 22 is a 6 and bearingat its opposite end against a stop 24 formed on the inner wall of the casing (1, said spring actuating and holding the resetplate 11 with-arm 1-2 bearing again'st the tumblers14'. {The'protruding finger 59 on shackle plate 20' engagesarm'12jof resetplate Figure 4 is an elevational of the keys jlland elevates it 'to-r'eleafse the tumblers 14.

23 are springsfengagingthe tumblers 14in side fslots'39 thereof and extending part way around the 1 pin 6 and'bearing at their oppo siteen'ds against rthestop-24 formed on the innerwall of thecasing 1, said spring actuat- V ingfthe sliding tumblers 14. 27, are fingers projectingfrom the tumblers 14 and extendfing adjacent to the pin'f; said fingers being adapted to engage respectively the bits 51, 52, and .53 ofthekeys'B, which are inserted over the pin 7 j;' and'cause the tumblers to move to f the locked position shown by dotted linesof F ig. 2. is a collar on pin 3 which projects through the L-shaped slots intumblers 14. areprotruding fingers on one extremity of the tumblers 14 and respectively engage the bits 54, and 56, on keys B when any one of the tumblers is in an indicating position to prevent any further turning of the key.

, Vith the shackle '13 locked in closed position, the hook 19 at the free end of the shackle is in engagement with the notched part 21 of the plate 20, as shown injFigs'2'and 3. By employing any one'ofthe keys A or B the shackle can be released. When one 'ofthe keys is inserted in the lock withitsbarreloven. the pm 7 and is turnedji'n" the proper direction, the bit at the innerend ofiithekeyengages the plate 20 and the latter istturn'ed on its pivot 6 toward the right from the posi-l 1 ,tionshown in Fig.;3i 'This movement ofthe plate releases the shackle and imparts a thrust project the freeend of shackle upward from; the casing. The released plateLQOZand the pawl 34 are movedintoimutual engagement to be held-thereby.inza position preliminary to subsequent engagement between-the Fplate and the hooked end "of Fthe shackle thrust'.

5 into thecasing.

' In-this positionaof the tumblers, the arm rl2o ofthe reset plate .11 registers with the alined In the-normal position of thepartsW-hem the shackle is locked, thetumblers sl-a-re positioned to the left onthepins 2 :and3, being normally pressed fto that position by. the springs 23, as -shown in Figs. 1 and 2,

v notches 58 in the upper edgeso-f the tumblers,

' the plate being normally pressed by r-the spring 22 to depressfithe arm". y-ziVVithithe 1 tumblers so positioned-and held, their marked ends 16,17,18 are withdrawn and; depressed from the window 15 of the casing. Assho wn;

j in the drawings, there are three tumblers to coact with three auxiliary keys B; The i el- ,respect ive auxiliary keys and of: the fingers -27 of the respective tumblers is such that each;

ative arrangement of the -bits 51,,52,{53o f the auxiliary key can actuate .onlyalpartioular f tumbler. a

WVhen a particular auxiliaryjkey ein-1 ployed to open the' lock, its-barrel isjthrust over thepost 7i and as the kev is Lturned its bit 60 aetuates the plate 20-to re leasefithe shackle, As the platefturns theifinger or '7 cam-lug 59jthereonr-ides beneath the arm12' and liftsthe latter'clearof the notches 5,8, :the

'7 resetting p'latel'l turning on theipost 3 V against the action of the spring'.f22['acoommodatesthe movement of'the arm. QAsIthe keyrotates the "bit, 51 or 52 or 53,:engages the finger'27 of theparticular tumbler contro1- *l-ing that i particular.v key, 1 therebyrmoving the tumbler against the actionuofits spring 23to' "the right rrom the position shownin-llig. 2.

As, the tumbler so moves, the stud '3 -passes;

along thelongitudinal zpart olf the. angular to the? alined not 7 the previouslyraisedi arm 12 .until --%the latter, through'the action of spring 22 on the resetting plate '11, is forced into the notch 57 of the t-uinbler and thel'atter is held in the dot I ,tednline position.

In this position. the marked end, 16 or 17 or18, of the tumbler registers with the: opening 15 in the casingi' The mark, 1'or"2 or 3, designates the particular -;tunibler.=that1 has beenrimoved to register. i the-"mark and thereby Iindieatessthe npartieular key:used; for theripurpose ;=--the-,: key 1 it may be idjentified (by; a; peculiar; :markztnot :shown) showing itslassoeiationrawith the para 5 p to the spring 26 that turnsithe-pawl? 34 to,

tieular tumblerthat lhas beenmoved. bGomkey-indicating pf sitioi'rreontinuesf iuritilatthe tumbler is :reset." 7 1 When the. masterzrkeytA is? used atereset a displaced tumbler, it isa-inserted .infithecilock overzthe post 7 -and--rotated in the requiredi J l direction. -;'Asvthe;:k'ey--is rotated .itSiblt'ifiO engagesthe zarnr 28 of-the resetting plate :11

and the latter:is-turnedgagainst the ZLdlJiOIl-TOf ,Et'he ."spring; 22 to-ulift the arm ;1'2'i from the notch-57of theengaged't-uinbler. wwhen'this 109 occurs; the spring ;232 of "the released-tumbler 'moves' the ---l'atter @130 its initial position, :reset for the next: unlock-ing- :operationrof the zau xiliary key for that tumbler. 'When sthel plate ll is-released-bythekey,itheiarmEl2sdropsiin ches 57 a11d;t-he lock ris rea'dy for ;the;'next locki-ng operat-ion,

' i? Then-construction :1 and ?arra*ngement il'lOf parts as herein described isiforvaivsliaekle loc'k; but the ipartsim-ay sbe' changedzcon'sider 1'10 ably to; Fadapt the principle:ofa the 'loc'k fito other well known forms without 1 departing from the spirit of; the invention so l'ong as the main featur'ei s adhered to, that ofia plurality moved by its specific *key,-* and' 'fre ndering v the lock incapable .of furthercoperationnm til released master key f" Theother parts working parts of the different styles 1205;

with a casing, o flalock-m'echanism, .aipluralsr ityof indicating .tumblerssadaptedr t0.,.;be

ilocked one at atimelinanindicatingposition,'

a reset plate having an arm-thereon to; release the tumblersv from? loeked "position, springs onefor each tumbler-toreturnasaidtumbleIfi 1 to normal position, and a spring for returning said reset plate to normal position,

2. In an indicating lock the Combination .With a casing, of a lock mechanism, a plurality of indicating tumblers having parallely a arranged oblong slots near one extremity and parallely arranged L -shaped slots centrally,v

7 located, and pins rigidly secured to the back of said casing and protruding inwardly through the said slots, said tumblers being.

movable on said pins, means tooperate the tumblers to indicatingposition and meansto.

reset the tumblers.

3. In an indicating lock, the combination with a casing, of a lock mechanism, apl'urality of indicating tumblers, a pin secured in the back of said casing, areset plate pivoted about said pin, and an arm extending perpen dicularly. from theface of said reset plate to j V engage the tumblers and hold them in their locked position.

with a casing, a lock mechanism, a plurality of individual indicatingmeans, means for operating the same, and means for HIOVHIg" 4. In an indicating lock, the'combination- 2 said indicating means individually, both lon- V ting the indicating tumblers.

gitudinally' and transversely for resetting i the sameafter operation. I

V 5. In an indicating lock, the combination with a casing, of a'lock'inechanism,:a plural ity of indicating tumblers each having a longitudinally extending slot and an angular slot therein, pins extending through said slots, means for actuating said lockqinechanism and moving said indicating tumblers on; said pins to indicating position, andcmeans for actuating the lock' mechanism .and reset- 6. In an indicating lock, the combination with a casing of alock mechanism, a plurality a of indicating tumblers,'ineans for actuating said locking mechanism and mov1ngsa1d tumblers longitudinally then swinging them transversely into indicating position, and means for returning said tumblers to normal position. a w

In testimony whereof I afliX my. signature. JOH GARLINGTON RAMEY. I 

